Technologies
No single technology is best for every situation. Use this as a decision guide — pick what matches your scenario, budget, and licence status.
Quick picks by scenario
Not sure where to start? These are the most common entry points based on situation and budget.
Best first setup for a neighborhood
GMRS handheld + Meshtastic node~$60–100
Voice on GMRS (no exam), encrypted text on Meshtastic (no licence). Covers both media types for under $100.
Best no-licence option
LoRa / Meshtastic~$20–60/node
Operates in the unlicenced ISM band worldwide. Encrypted text mesh with 2–15 km range per hop. No exam, no registration.
Best long-distance fallback
HF radio + Winlink~$500–2,000
Reaches global distances via ionospheric propagation with zero infrastructure. Winlink adds email capability over radio.
Best when all ground infrastructure is gone
Starlink + portable power station~$600 + $120/mo
Full broadband from LEO satellites. The only option that restores internet-grade connectivity after total terrestrial failure.
Radio
Voice and data radio technologies that work without internet or commercial infrastructure — from $25 handhelds to global HF links.
Ham Radio Digital Modes
Software-defined modes that squeeze messages through marginal HF propagation — email over radio, weak-signal text, and packet position reporting.
Satellite
Satellite options for when all ground infrastructure is gone — from full broadband to pocket-sized SOS devices.
Mesh Networks
Community-scale WiFi meshes that provide local IP networking without an ISP, using open-source firmware on commodity hardware.
Offline-First Apps
Software that works without internet — encrypted local messaging, offline maps, and situational awareness tools.
Portable Power
Battery banks, solar panels, and power stations that keep radios, mesh nodes, and phones running when the grid is down.
Which technologies survive which failures
✓ works · ~ partial / depends · ✗ fails · Power out assumes battery backup available for radio/mesh hardware
| Technology | Power out | Congestion | Tower down | Fiber cut | Gov. shutdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VHF/UHF Radio (FM) | |||||
| HF Radio | |||||
| LoRa / Meshtastic | |||||
| WiFi Mesh (AREDN) | |||||
| Starlink | |||||
| Cellular / Mobile | |||||
| Offline-First Apps |
Quick Comparison
| Technology | Range | Bandwidth | Infrastructure | License | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community FM Broadcast (LPFM) | 5–20 km | Audio broadcast | Transmitter + antenna | Broadcast (national authority) | $500–5,000 station |
| Analog FM (VHF/UHF) | Local–regional | Voice only | None / repeater | GMRS / Ham | $25–200 |
| LoRa / Meshtastic | 2–15 km/hop | ~5 kbps | None (mesh) | None (ISM band) | $20–60/node |
| AREDN Mesh | 1–30+ km/link | 10–100 Mbps | None (mesh) | Ham (Technician+) | $50–300/node |
| Ham HF Radio | Global | Voice / data | None (ionospheric) | Ham General (for HF) | $500–2,000 |
| Winlink | Global | Low (data only) | Gateway stations (distributed) | Ham | Free (software) |
| JS8Call | Global (HF) | ~50 bps | None | Ham | Free |
| APRS | Regional (digipeater network) | 1200 bps | Digipeater network | Ham | $100–300 |
| Starlink | Global | 50–200 Mbps down / 10–20 Mbps up | LEO satellite constellation | None (subscription) | $599 hardware + $120/mo |
| Garmin inReach | 100% global coverage | Very low (text only) | Iridium LEO constellation | None | ~$350 hardware + $15–65/mo |
| Iridium GO! | 100% global (including poles) | 2.4 kbps data / voice calls | Iridium LEO constellation (66 satellites) | None | $800–1,200 hardware + usage |
| Community WiFi Mesh | 100m–5km/node | 10–300 Mbps | None (self-managed) | None | $30–200/node |
| Briar | Bluetooth (~10m) / WiFi Direct (~100m) | Medium | None (P2P) | None | Free |
| OsmAnd / Maps.me | N/A | N/A | None (offline) | None | Free |
| Portable Battery Banks | 10–40,000 mAh | N/A | None | None | $30–150 |
| Portable Solar Panels | 20–200W panels | N/A | None | None | $40–300 |
| Portable Power Stations | 256 Wh–3,600 Wh | N/A | None | None | $200–3,000 |
- Technology
- Community FM Broadcast (LPFM)
- Range
- 5–20 km
- Bandwidth
- Audio broadcast
- Infrastructure
- Transmitter + antenna
- License
- Broadcast (national authority)
- Cost
- $500–5,000 station
- Technology
- Analog FM (VHF/UHF)
- Range
- Local–regional
- Bandwidth
- Voice only
- Infrastructure
- None / repeater
- License
- GMRS / Ham
- Cost
- $25–200
- Technology
- LoRa / Meshtastic
- Range
- 2–15 km/hop
- Bandwidth
- ~5 kbps
- Infrastructure
- None (mesh)
- License
- None (ISM band)
- Cost
- $20–60/node
- Technology
- AREDN Mesh
- Range
- 1–30+ km/link
- Bandwidth
- 10–100 Mbps
- Infrastructure
- None (mesh)
- License
- Ham (Technician+)
- Cost
- $50–300/node
- Technology
- Ham HF Radio
- Range
- Global
- Bandwidth
- Voice / data
- Infrastructure
- None (ionospheric)
- License
- Ham General (for HF)
- Cost
- $500–2,000
- Technology
- Winlink
- Range
- Global
- Bandwidth
- Low (data only)
- Infrastructure
- Gateway stations (distributed)
- License
- Ham
- Cost
- Free (software)
- Technology
- JS8Call
- Range
- Global (HF)
- Bandwidth
- ~50 bps
- Infrastructure
- None
- License
- Ham
- Cost
- Free
- Technology
- APRS
- Range
- Regional (digipeater network)
- Bandwidth
- 1200 bps
- Infrastructure
- Digipeater network
- License
- Ham
- Cost
- $100–300
- Technology
- Starlink
- Range
- Global
- Bandwidth
- 50–200 Mbps down / 10–20 Mbps up
- Infrastructure
- LEO satellite constellation
- License
- None (subscription)
- Cost
- $599 hardware + $120/mo
- Technology
- Garmin inReach
- Range
- 100% global coverage
- Bandwidth
- Very low (text only)
- Infrastructure
- Iridium LEO constellation
- License
- None
- Cost
- ~$350 hardware + $15–65/mo
- Technology
- Iridium GO!
- Range
- 100% global (including poles)
- Bandwidth
- 2.4 kbps data / voice calls
- Infrastructure
- Iridium LEO constellation (66 satellites)
- License
- None
- Cost
- $800–1,200 hardware + usage
- Technology
- Community WiFi Mesh
- Range
- 100m–5km/node
- Bandwidth
- 10–300 Mbps
- Infrastructure
- None (self-managed)
- License
- None
- Cost
- $30–200/node
- Technology
- Briar
- Range
- Bluetooth (~10m) / WiFi Direct (~100m)
- Bandwidth
- Medium
- Infrastructure
- None (P2P)
- License
- None
- Cost
- Free
- Technology
- OsmAnd / Maps.me
- Range
- N/A
- Bandwidth
- N/A
- Infrastructure
- None (offline)
- License
- None
- Cost
- Free
- Technology
- Portable Battery Banks
- Range
- 10–40,000 mAh
- Bandwidth
- N/A
- Infrastructure
- None
- License
- None
- Cost
- $30–150
- Technology
- Portable Solar Panels
- Range
- 20–200W panels
- Bandwidth
- N/A
- Infrastructure
- None
- License
- None
- Cost
- $40–300
- Technology
- Portable Power Stations
- Range
- 256 Wh–3,600 Wh
- Bandwidth
- N/A
- Infrastructure
- None
- License
- None
- Cost
- $200–3,000
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